It’s funny how a couple of good wins against Derby and Blues can totally change your outlook isn’t it?
Yes, I know it’s fickle of me, but the fact is we looked awful for a good while and I didn’t think for one minute that reintroducing Jack Grealish would make such a difference.
But he has and that’s where we are; I once again believe that we can beat anyone in this league.
Team news then and Tuanzebe and Lansbury are back in training, but tonight will be too early for them.
Otherwise, nothing has changed.
Nottingham Forest could be without Lewis Grabban and Matty Cash and Martin O’Neil has hinted that he might change things up, which suggests he might be forced to.
O’Neil certainly seems pretty confident about the game and has also hinted that he might go for it.
Which could possibly play into our hands, although we know Forest can score goals too, as we saw at Villa Park.
Both clubs have decent squads and some very decent players at this level.
Hence I see it being a good game, with hopefully plenty of attacking on our part.
Our only problem is what to do with John McGinn and in my opinion, Dean Smith should stick with the side that started against Birmingham and bring McGinn on for added energy as and when required.
I know McGinn helped to transform our game on Sunday, but I’m a big believer in sticking with a successful side.
There’s a strong argument that McGinn should start, which would give, say, Whelan a bit of a rest. I’m not sure the Irishman would be too happy about it though.
Bringing Green in for Adomah might be a good idea too, although I suspect Smith sees the youngster as more of an impact player for now, so don’t really see it happening.
Whichever way Smith decides to go will be fine with me and it’s a very pleasant problem for him to have.
I think if we had a full strength defence, I’d be 100% confident that we can win this.
But even though we haven’t, our defence is a lot better than it was when we played Forest at home and I don’t expect us to get caught out so easily.
That said, I’m still quite confident and while I don’t expect another 5-5 goal glut, I do see goals.
I’m going for a 2-1 win to us and would normally be happy with a draw.
But we need the points if we’re to maintain our push for the play-offs and I think we have to be confident.
It’s always fatal when we’re confident, isn’t it?
I do think we can do this though.
I agree with you Badger in so far as the difference Grealish has brought to the team – it’s difficult to put a finger on any single aspect, but he’s definitely the glue or the final piece in the jigsaw.
I’m a consistently poor predictor so perhaps I should go for a loss!
I’ll do my normal sit on the fence and go for a score draw – win would be great but a draw wouldn’t be a disaster.
I agree Hitch. A draw would put us within one win of sixth place and also ensure that Forest don’t progress.
However, I’m not going to predict the score. The last time I predicted we’d win, we lost and the last two games, when I didn’t give a prediction, we won. So I’m out of the prediction game for good.
However, I hope we play well whatever the result. While I’m not confident of reaching the play-offs it would still be nice for us to be in the frame until the end of the season as it will make it more exciting for us fans.
Well lads I seen that about Grealish being the missing link. But I think someone said one man don’t make a team, well to me he did. He’s a hidden gem and will make his name in football, but I don’t think it will be in our side ( I hope it is). We have other’s coming through if Dean keeps them ,I like that Ramsey he’s going to be good player one day. Not saying anything of tonight’s game, I didn’t last time and we won, ok I’m a coward if interest being shown .
LOL – we’re all scared stiff to predict in case we jinx the result – so much for higher levels of confidence 🙂
Badger wins the bravery award 🙂
Oh, don’t worry Hitch, I’m massively scared in case I jinx it too.
But I’m also bored of predicting us to do poorly recently and am just trying to be positive.
(👍
God, I’ve just realised the ref is a certain Mike Dean 🙁
Oh that’s torn it – our favourite ref who hates the Villa 🙂
Well, we know we’ll nowt get anything from him.
I’m not going to predict either. The last 2 games I haven’t made a prediction so call me superstitious but I will refrain again. Grealish is the man who makes us tick but against blues McGinn made the difference. I would rest Whelan tonight as my only change. Hopefully Grabban won’t be playing which would be a big plus for us.
This time last year, on the back of us playing Wolves off the park, we got convincingly beat by QPR…. This is the last time i was confident about us getting a result – I only hope my personal negativity proves me wrong tonight, as i think 3 points would really give us a shout at the playoffs….. Its about time we put a good run together….
Well Dean Smith is getting into rarefied atmosphere at 9th. Can he supply the oxygen to move further up towards the summit. 🙂 Apologies for that!
I suspect his only dilemma is whether to start with Whelan or McGinn. I think he’ll start with McGinn because he adds energy but also because he and Grealish link well together. Whelan to come on later to protect our lead – aghhhh – is that a prediction. Sorry guys 🙂
Jed Steer
Kortney Hause
Tyrone Mings
Neil Taylor
Ahmed Elmohamady
Jack Grealish
Conor Hourihane
John McGinn
Tammy Abraham
Anwar El Ghazi
André Green
Substitutes: Lovre Kalinić, Albert Adomah, Birkir Bjarnason, Tom Carroll, Mile Jedinak, Glenn Whelan, Jonathan Kodjia.
So McGinn in for Whelan and Green for Adomah.
I’m ok with that and think it’s a strong side.
Also Grabban and Cash out. Hopefully that’s good for us.
Oh, that’s a bloody good bench too, albeit a bit light in defence!
It is on the box if anyone’s interested. Sky sports Action….
COYL!
Green right and Al Ghazi left.
I’d expect that to change.
Fucks sake Steer 🙁
0-1
What a piss-poor goal.
Yes! McGinn
1-1
Battered it in from the right hand side of their box.
Game on!
Great response from the Villa. I thought the Forest goal was a lucky hit but there was nothing lucky about that shot!
Agreed, Pat.
Abraham heads wide from a free header.
We can do this.